That goddamned thing

Chapter 18

We make our way down the stairs quietly and into the small room. As we approach the door of the room that will take us out of the house, I almost feel that we will make out of here too easily. But is anything ever easy for us? Of course not. Alex turns the door knob slowly and as he walks out towards the final room before we can quit the house, I hear a grunt.

I look around and see Alex’s father standing near the door, holding a gun. He isn’t pointing it at us but I have a feeling that he is holding it just in case. My stare lingers down to his hand and back to his eyes, which still holds the cold stare. He gives us a scanning look and I can see where Alex got that from.

“Where are you going?” He grunts. He looks half drunk to me.

I look around at Alex and he squeezes my hand.

“Uh, just wanted to walk around.” Alex tries to say casually but stutters in process.

His dad clearly notices the guilty looks on our faces and points the gun at us. “Now stop moving, my dearies.”

My heart skips a beat as Alex tugs at my arm and moves toward the door. The next few events happen very quickly. The voice of a gunshot booms in my ears as the front door opens and two men enter. Relief sears through me as I look from Alex’s dad to him and see him fine. I notice the bullet has hit the wall right above our heads. I can clearly see that we can’t escape anymore. Our only exit is now blocked. Alex pulls me into his frame and I just look around at what will happen next. I cannot think straight. This is the third time that I am hearing a gunshot in less than two weeks; it’s not a very good sound I must say. My mind is not responding to anything properly and I just stand there by Alex’s side like a scared cat.

“Oddy!” Alex’s father slurs. He is wasted, I can see that. “Finally you are here.”

“We have brought you,” Oddy stares at us and then says, “the packets Mr. Gonzalez. I want the business over with.”

Alex’s father nods and points at us, “Let’s get over with the lovebirds first. Bring them in.” He says turning back and goes into the room.

Oddy scrunches his forehead, clearly annoyed at being ordered around but moves toward us anyway. The other man follows him.

“Don’t touch her.” Alex growls as Oddy approaches me.

Alex tightens his grip around me and follows his dad into the room. I look up at him and he just gives me a small reassuring nod. What is this man up to, I think. His warmth and grip is reassuring so I just make up my mind to do as he says. It’s not like we can just run out of here. I can feel the men following right behind us.

I notice the skins of different animals hanging around the walls as we enter a big room. It is decorated in a luxurious way. Hunting guns are decorated on the far side of the wall. There is an Island at one corner and behind that are a lot of champagne bottles in racks. Alex’s dad must make a lot of money through drug dealing. We stop after a few paces inside the room as Alex’s dad goes to the Island and picks an already open bottle of champagne and takes a gulp.

He says something in Spanish looking in our direction though his eyes are not focused.

Alex spits something back. I can see his pulse rising. His grip around me tightens even more and I almost feel my arm going numb where his hand is holding me.

“You know what? You are as stupid as Antonella!” His father growls in English. “She also didn’t enjoy the luxuries of life, too busy being honest and nice. Well fuck her, see what happened to her?”

“Stop talking about mama like that!” Alex hisses.

Alex’s dad starts moving slowly toward us, “I will say what I like! She was a bitch. I told her to drop the honesty and join my business but she wouldn’t. Dumped her, hah!” He takes a sip from the bottle and slurs, “She deserved what she got. All women fucking think they know everything. She wanted to protect you. Much good it did to you, you and that little bitch are stuck here.” He says pointing at me.

I feel Alex’s grip loosening on me, he is shaking slightly.

“Shut up!” I shout, my voice surprising me as well. “Just shut your mouth. You have no right to talk about anyone like that.”

“Woah, ever heard of right of opinion, missy?” He says coming even closer. I can smell his strong breath.

Just then, someone shouts from outside. “Must be Mark. He will need help with the boxes.” Oddy grunts behind me. It is clear that he is not enjoying this game.

“Go and help him out. You too Jean.” Alex’s dad waves at them and I feel them moving away from me and out of the door. He almost loses his balance as he waves and quickly grabs the sofa. I look at Alex and he looks back at me, it is clear what we have to do now.

As quick as lightning, Alex leaves my side and grabs the gun from his almost unconscious father. He starts to retaliate but Alex holds him in place. I wait for Alex to do something to him, to hurt him for talking like that but he does nothing, he just holds his dad firmly against the sofa. I can see the wild look in his eyes and I can understand what he is thinking. He hates his father with a passion but whatever, he is his father and he just cannot bring himself around to hurt him.

All women fucking think they know everything. His words boom in my ears and unintentionally, I move forward. I look straight into his dad’s eyes.

“Right of opinion, huh? You are free to say whatever you want but you are not free from the consequences of being a jerk. That crap won’t be tolerated.” I shout at him and with a swish I slap him right across the face. I don’t know where all this is coming from but it brings gratification to my heart. His eyes are almost closed and I feel bad that he won’t remember what I said after he wakes up. He is too drunk to know what is happening.

I look up at Alex and for once his expression is unreadable. Is he mad at me? I feel sorry that I hit his dad right in front of him but I just couldn’t bear him anymore. He suddenly lets go of his dad and grip my hand. Without looking at me, he turns toward the door and starts running.

We go out into the small room and moving with quick pace, we run out of the front door. I look up at the sky and the stars are still out. I wonder what time it is. As I look around, a man is unloading crates from a minivan. He must me Mark. The other two are nowhere to be seen.  He turns around after putting the last crate down from the van and looks up. Alex points the gun at him with his free hand and whispers to me, “Go and sit in the driver’s seat.” At first I don’t understand what he says but slowly I let go of his hand and move toward the van. Mark is standing rooted to his spot clearly shocked at what is happening.

I move toward the van and sit in the driver’s seat but what the hell am I supposed to do here, I think. I don’t even have the key to start it. My mind must really be sleeping because just then I see that the engine is already running. I close the door behind me and put my hands on the steering wheel. I slowly understand what Alex wants me to do. I jerk my head back and see the two men, Oddy and Jean coming from around the house. They start running as they see Alex.

“Alex! Get in.” I shout and he doesn’t need to be told twice. He runs around the van, as I hear the fourth gunshot in less than two weeks. Alex’s body hits mine as he sits in the van and he shuts the door behind him.

“Go!” He orders. I press the accelerator and the van takes off with a jerk. I hear Alex breathing heavily as I look into the rear mirror, the back door of the van still wide open. I hear more gunshots but I lose count as we exit the gate and onto the street. As the car speeds up, I feel the air pressure against my cheeks, the night breeze radiating new energy in me. I suddenly feel free. We did it. We escaped. I almost feel like laughing out loud. Just then I notice that Alex hasn’t said anything even though we went past the gate about ten minutes ago.

I look around at him, smiling goofily, but as we pass under a street lamp, my smile turns upside down. I saw so much happening to me and to my loved ones in the past few days but what lays in front of me is nothing compared to that. I hit the brakes and the van screeches on the road. “Alex! Alex! Alex!” I shout shaking him. He is covered in blood. “Alex! Wake up.” I start to panic and tears come out of my eyes. What should I do, I don’t understand. I am in a foreign country, how am I even going to find a hospital?